In Texas, where the heat makes your favorite soda irresistible, one man’s TikTok has left people staring suspiciously at their soda cans. What started as a casual sip turned into a viral warning. One that reminds everyone that what’s on the outside of that can might be more dangerous than you think.
The Texas man’s video quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of views after he revealed why he refuses to drink soda from a can. His reasoning? You never know what’s touched the top before it reaches your lips. From factory floors to store shelves. Those cans go on quite a journey before ending up in your fridge. And after seeing his clip, people everywhere are suddenly thinking twice before cracking one open.
In his video, TikToker @thequantofx says that, if one wants to drink soda, they should do so from a bottle, not a can. “Because, if there is a pee pee of rats or any insect, and you’re drinking from a can, you will die,” the TikToker jokes. “You will die in a day. One day.”
This isn’t the first time this news has made waves in Texas or beyond. For years, people have whispered about rat urine or insect contamination on soda cans. The potential for contracting a dangerous illness from these pests is known as Leptospirosis. While medical experts say the odds of catching something this way are extremely low, just the mention of it has many soda lovers losing their thirst.
When A Simple Drink Turns Alarming
Realistically, the bacteria that cause Leptospirosis don’t survive well on dry surfaces like a can top. However, that doesn’t mean your drink is spotless. Between warehouses, transport trucks, and store displays, plenty of grime can build up before it ever hits your hands.
If that isn’t enough to freak you out and send your nightmares into high gear, the National Committee on Urban Pest Control Training Institute Facebook page has a lot of nasty information not only on this subject, but all the most disgusting and creepy dangers you should be on the lookout for. But as a word of caution, it is not for the anxiety-ridden, nor the squeamish.
The answer depends on your comfort level. While the actual danger is minimal. Health officials admit that soda cans aren’t the cleanest items you’ll handle today. A quick wipe-down or rinse under water could easily save you from swallowing something unpleasant. Or, as the TikToker suggests, just stick to bottles to play it safe.
From Texas and beyond, soda fans are now giving their cans a second look. And after this information sinks in, maybe a quick wash before that first sip. Consider this a PSA. Your soda might be cold and refreshing, but that doesn’t mean the can is. Wash it, wipe it, or pour it. Because a few seconds of caution might keep your next drink from turning into a regretful gulp.
Nina Franklin 
Kendra Quinn 
Hunter Spears 
